Red door

A perfect little 1928 cottage at the "new" end of Jackson Avenue.

Fourteen by sixteen

This tiny 1871 house at the corner of Davidson and Short streets is only 16 feet wide by 14 feet deep, according to city records.

Theme Day March 2009: Glass

The rose window of R. E. Lee Episcopal, through the snow.

Today is the first of the month, and city daily bloggers around the world are posting on the March theme: Glass. Since my Sunday post is usually of a church, it was easy to combine the two this week.

It may not rival Chartres, but the church keeps this window lit every night, and it's a pretty and comforting sight on an after-dark ramble through the town. Particularly so when it is snowing (March is "coming in" lion-like), as it was last night.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this month's City Daily Photo theme.

Where Lee died

A magnificent old tree - one of many on the Washington and Lee campus - stands in front of the house of the President.

The house was built for General Robert E. Lee when he was chosen as president of W&L after the end of the Civil War. Since then it has served as the house of the President of the University. Research has shown it to be not an original design, but one adapted from a plan book of the time. The large porch, with its low, almost transparent railings, was for the benefit of Martha Custis Lee (Lee's wife, a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington), who was confined to a wheelchair. She is said to have enjoyed watching and talking with students from her vantage point on the porch.

Lee died in 1870, at 63, in the dining room of this house.

Stone, brick and wood

Materials mellowed by time give this old outbuilding at Stono a romantic quality.

A number of Stono's dependencies have survived. This fascinating circular one was the ice house.

Ruff House

Side door of the Jacob M. Ruff house at 21 North Main St., painted a felicitous shade of green.

The house is a Lexington landmark, and owes its life to the Historic Lexington Foundation (which purchased it in 1972 and restored the exterior) and G. Otis Mead III (who restored the interior after purchasing it from HLF the following year). It was only the third building in Lexington to be rescued by the then fledgling local preservation movement. It has served as the offices of Mead Associates, Realtors, for over 35 years.

Built c. 1829, this structure was likely not the first house on the site. A brick incorporated into the present building reads, "1783." According to The Architecture of Historic Lexington, by Lyle and Simpson, at the time of the restoration "the foundation introduced many young people in the community to an archaeological excavation in the backyard. It was the first such experience for Lexington. Among the artifacts unearthed were porcelain, pottery, glass, marbles, a clay pipe, a French brass hand-warmer, and evidence of the presence of an early stable and brick walls."

Forge door

Brown's Forge at 130 South Randolph St., quiet on a Sunday afternoon.

Owned and run by the Brown family for almost 150 years (they are said to have shod Robert E. Lee's famous horse, Traveller), the forge is now operated by blacksmith Jack Chaffee.

I found the following, written by Chaffee, in the March 2007 issue of The Virginian, the newsletter of the Blacksmith Guild of Virginia, online here:

“The goal of BROWN'S FORGE LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM is to keep the feeling of a small town smithy at about the turn of the last century. The Shop was established about 1856 and the present building was erected in 1915. From about 1865 to around 1900 it was a carriage-building Shop and there are many dies and sets used to create the fittings typical of carriages of those days. Gradually as gasoline power replaced the horse the Shop converted to repair of automobiles and did a brisk business in that regard up 'til the 50's. But as automotive technology changed the owners chose not to invest in the technology required and the Shop reverted back to being a smithy and repair shop. Now, it is primarily a smithy for architectural iron and secondarily a repair/restoration shop for tools, utensils, and broken cast iron items. Our specialty in that line is the repair and sharpening of the push reel-type lawn mowers. We have the only reel mower sharpening machine (1943) in operation within a 60 mile radius.”

I expect this sign offers an example of Chaffee's work:

Perhaps I will be able to post a photo of Mr. Chaffee in action one of these days.

Theme Day Jan 2009: Best Photo of the Year

Being new to both photography and daily photo blogging, I didn't have a large number of images to choose from for this month's City Daily Photo theme -- Best Photo of the Year. But I have found, through looking at the many excellent pictures my fellow bloggers post each day, that photographs that engage my imagination have the most staying power for me.

So, I've chosen a slightly different perspective on the photo I first posted here. (I had a hard time choosing between the two for my initial post.) I think this second one adds a little something to what was intimated in the first. I also think the existence of this little door in a gnarly old tree along the Woods Creek Trail somehow brings together many things I particularly like about Lexington.

On this first day of the New Year I want to thank everyone connected with City Daily Photo for the very warm welcome I have received for my blog from people all over the world, and for the daily efforts that go on behind the scenes to bring so many blogs together. It is much appreciated!

Daily City bloggers around the world are exhibiting their year's best photographs. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

All is calm

Christmas afternoon light on the side door of the First Baptist Church on N. Main St.

This church has an interesting history that I will have to save for another time. We're off to the big city for a couple of days. (I'll still be posting, though.) I'll catch up with everyone when I return.

Secret door ...

... in an undisclosed location on the banks of Woods Creek.

The pre-school set maintains that the troll will answer messages.